Stop the push to erase one of Australia's most significant historical figures.

James Cook University was established more than 50 years ago and has built an international reputation under its current name. Now, despite claiming it is not pursuing a name change, the university has endorsed a framework explaining how such a change could occur.

An internal report estimates that changing the university's name could cost up to $12 million. That is money that should be invested in students, teaching, research and scholarships—not spent on an expensive rebranding exercise.

Captain James Cook remains one of the most significant figures in Australian history. His voyages transformed the world's understanding of the Pacific and shaped the course of Australia's modern history. Whether people admire every aspect of history or not, history should be studied and understood—not erased.

Even the university's own report acknowledges that changing the name could trigger alumni backlash, donor withdrawals, accusations of "erasing history", reputational damage and divisive culture wars. If the risks are so obvious, why pursue a process that invites them?

This is not about pretending history was simple. History is often complex. Universities should encourage honest discussion about the past, not attempt to distance themselves from it through costly symbolic gestures.

Australians are increasingly frustrated by campaigns to judge historical figures solely by modern standards. If every historical figure is cancelled because they lived in a different era, there will soon be very little history left to commemorate.

Don't Cancel Captain Cook. Keep the name. Protect Australia's history.

Send an email to James Cook University urging them to permanently retain the university's name and abandon any proposal to remove it.